Even better value for members only is available in the latest SG-II w/ X-Gauge Group Buy purchase thread.

While we strive to provide only the highest quality information through our members' offerings, if you find the information provided valuable, please consider a donation so that we can offer an even better experience for the membership and guests well into the future.

Some posts may describe situations which may in some cases be unsafe or illegal in some jurisdictions. Please use common sense and consult your local laws to make sure you do not hurt yourself or others or break any laws.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view discussions, articles and access our other features. By joining our community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload your own photos and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact support.

Aerostich Darien Jacket and Pants were worn while testing the BMW F 800 GS’ braking power in a deserted parking lot located in upstate VT.

For CleanMPG’s Best in Class riding gear review, we traveled to the beaches of LA overlooking the Pacific, the inlet of Long Island overlooking the Atlantic, up to Lake Placid in the mountainous Adirondacks, and to the edge of Canada. This gear was tested in the warm southern California sunshine, the dense inner city environment of New York City, and in heavy rains while riding through Northern NY and Vermont.

Truthfully, using Aerostich’s Darien riding gear proved to be a somewhat uneventful experience through a variety of weather and traffic conditions. This is the way rider gear is supposed to be experienced; it should allow riders to concentrate on engaging vistas without gear concerns... regardless of location. In this respect, Darien apparel performs exactly as advertised.

Aerostich’s roots are in rider wear

Andy Goldfine founded Aero Design & Manufacturing in 1983 and is best known for his pioneering effort to bring lighter, more comfortable, and safer riding gear for motorcyclists. This is accomplished with body armored pads internal to the garments and a textile vs. leather-based construction.

His first suit (the Roadcrafter) was designed to allow quick and easy donning as well as removal while still remaining light enough to wear over regular clothing in warm weather. This was only possible through the use of newly available synthetic materials. Combining a Gore-Tex breathable membrane with Cordura nylon fabrics created a new material enabling Aerostich to invent the world's first lightweight, armored, abrasion and weather resistant motorcycle rider’s suit made of textiles.

A final item of note is one all of us should take to heart. Andy designs Aerostich clothing with real world experiences in mind. He has ridden across frozen Lake Superior in mid-winter. In fact, he rides his XR 650L year round commuting in Duluth, MN -- even when temperatures reach a bone chilling minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit! He has ridden around the world in every environment imaginable in order to test the performance of his gear against what the rest of the market offers. This has been Andy's daily mission for over 26 years... After all, safe and comfortable riding gear suitable for both daily and long trip use is a serious business. Who could possibly be better at designing gear than someone who doesn't just talk the talk but walks the walk? No matter what your requirements are, you can be sure that not only has Andy already thought of them but personally tested his wares to ensure they meet and exceed your expectations.

The Darien - What does that mean?

An Aerostich excerpt: The Darien Jungle is an unbelievably hot and swampy area in southern Panama and is considered impassable on foot or by any type of vehicle. The “Darien Gap” has been taken on by a few adventurous motorcyclists -- including world traveler Helge Pedersen who placed his BMW R80 G/S in a canoe and paddled it through. Ed Culberson on his own R80 G/S conquered the “Darien Gap” by hacking out an overland path. With those experiences in mind, both Helge and Ed helped test and refine the “Darien” jacket and pants for extreme weather and for facing unimaginable adversity. This is precisely what the Darien was designed for and it offers riders unparalleled protection, durability, and comfort in almost any situation.

Lead up

A two day motorcycle review trip to LA scheduled back in late April provided our first opportunity to procure and test Darien apparel while mixing it up in heavy commuting traffic. In particular, the HiViz bright yellow Darien jacket proved its worth in this environment. This was only a short ride but we gained a lot of insight into the comfort and visibility of the gear, though it wasn't really enough to give a quality review.

In early July, we had review rides scheduled with both the BMW F 800 GS and R 1200 RT motorcycles. We traveled from BMW’s New Jersey HQ up to Canada via NY State, back down through VT, MA, CT, and finally back through NY to NJ. This ride proved a perfect venue in which to discover Aerostich capabilities over much longer segments with more diverse terrain and large variations in weather conditions.

In an Australian Motorcycle rider conspicuity and crash related injury: case-control study, the relative risk of motorcycle crash related injuries attributed to conspicuity (standout visibility) was measured. This study weighed the use of reflective or fluorescent material and found that riders wearing this type of clothing had a 37% lower risk of injury than other riders.

The dangers facing motorcycle riders are unique and place operators at a much greater risk of injury than the driver or passenger of an automobile. Because of this, wearing a HiViz Yellow colored Aerostich Darien jacket can immediately reduce your risk by over 33%.

According to Aerostich, Hi-Viz Lime Yellow ‘jumps out’ because it is not naturally occurring, and because the human eye is most sensitive to light in this part of the spectrum. The brightest color possible under visible light is Hi-Viz Lime Yellow. The piercing Hi-Viz Lime Yellow carries plenty of visual ‘punch’ even under incandescent and low-light conditions. Among preventative measures in the repertoire of an urban commuter, these garments are unmatched.

If you choose instead to ride with the standard Red, Blue, Gray, or Black Darien Jacket, please wear a construction colored vest as demonstrated by Harry (above) in order “to be seen”. A seen rider is an alive and well rider.

Aerostich Darien Jacket and Pants - Price and Specifications

Darien Jacket

Liner

Price

“

(none)

$427

“

w/ standard TLTec Liner

$510.50

“

w/ Wind Blocker TLTec Liner (Blue)

$520.50

“

w/ Kanetsu Wind Blocker Electric Liner TLTec (Blue)

$627

“

w/ Kanetsu WINDSTOPPER Electric Liner (Black)

$647

“

w/ AirVantage Electric Liner

$687

All Darien jackets are made from waterproof 500 Denier Cordura® Nylon with a breathable Gore-Tex® inner fabric laminate. This lightweight fabric out-performs denim, ordinary synthetics and lighter weight leathers for abrasion resistance. Additionally, the exterior Cordura® nylon fabrics is “smoother” than leather so in a crash you will slide slightly farther but roll and tumble less.

Armor protection is provided by four removable hard shell TF3 foam elbow and shoulder pads with an optional back pad -- all of which enhance the jacket’s crash protection.

Darien Pants - $297

Darien pants are constructed of 500 Denier Cordura® Nylon and lined with GORE-TEX® fabric that is fully seam taped for comfort and strength. Available in either black or grey, the pants include two front pockets, one back pocket, a flapped front fly, and a waistband with belt loops containing a removable Aerostich belt. Full length side zips with inner and outer flaps insure easy on-and-off convenience and severe weather protection. Bent knees, large 3M Scotchlite™ reflective ankle adjustment tabs, and shaped, removable TF3 knee pads complete the specifications. Optional Hip pads are available and I recommend them highly.

Aerostich's Darien Jacket and Pants - Impressions

Aerostich Darien gear worn in a very heavy rain in upstate NY.

Darien Jacket

Pockets - The Darien jacket includes 8-pockets (5-external zipped, one external Velcroed, and 2-internal Velcroed). All the zippers are YKK type and the four main front chest, front hip pocket, as well as underarm ventilation zippers include a heavy rubber covering for easy operation with gloves on. A cautionary note directly from Aerostich specifies that tools, cameras, and other items carried in your pockets can cause injuries during a crash. All pockets were designed to provide additional abrasion layers first and as storage second. For safety, do not carry any hard or pointed objects in the pockets. As it happens, there are so many of these pockets you may become confused as to what has been stored where. I did and began to limit which and how many pockets I used.

Ventilation - Built in ventilation works well up to 90 degrees F with a light shirt underneath as long as speeds are above 10 mph. The very large zippered underarm vent openings and zippered opening across the entire back are all storm enclosed so you will not get wet in anything less than a tornado. I left the external vents wide open in 65 degree temperatures and during 2 + hours of very heavy rain not a single drop entered my liner-less Darien jacket! I zipped everything closed for another 2-hours of rain riding without any water leaks at all. This is a great jacket for rain riding without having to use additional gear. In heat, unzipping the sleeves completely and lowering the front a few inches sufficed for a 2-hour NY City stop and crawl in low 80 degree temps. I rode with the liner-less Darien into the low 60 degree range with all ventilation openings zipped up for an hour or so of night time highway driving around Anaheim, CA. The jacket proved to be very comfortable. With the fleece liner and good gloves, riders should have no problems down to perhaps 45 degrees or so.

Armor - Shoulder and elbow padding are preinstalled in the Darien jacket with an optional back pad for additional protection. You can both feel and see the wind, rain, and weather protection in addition to crash and abrasion protection offered by this suit. Protection is there without getting in the way.

Adjustability - The sleeves are adjusted with included and sewn in Velcro strips while ventilation is regulated by standard zippered expansions in the forearms of the jacket. The waist can be adjusted by both a belt and adjustable Velcro. The dual height storm collar is a Velcro belt like solution to meet the needs and size of any individual wearing the Darien. The collar without the fleece liner chafes a bit and could use a softer lining.

Fleece liner - The base liner is more than a simple hook and loop Polartec fleece jacket. It includes unique attributes including 2-zipped, 2-Velcroed, and 2-open interior pockets. It also features two large, zippered, underarm ventilation openings and a zippered section for storage of the entire (inside out) jacket. Once collapsed and rolled into a pouch, there are attached handles for easy carrying or securing to other items. The jacket is also lined with a lightweight material called TLtec which is wind resistant, breathable, and moisture wicking yet water repellent. This liner was used sparingly but was very soft, light, and comfortable.

Stiffness - This is a stiff jacket when new! It should become more pliable with age but it never got in the way. The sleeves are sewn in the bike leaning forward rotation position so riders won't have to fight the jacket during the 100 hour break in period.

Visibility - This garment exhibits absolutely the best visibility I have ever experienced. While traversing stop light to stop light intersections in and around downtown Los Angles, I actually saw 3 drivers tracking my movement through intersections vs. the normal momentary eye contact (in many cases drivers do not register a rider's presence when only a fleeting glance is seen). It was an amazing sight and made a deep impression on this reviewer. I will definitely use HiViz gear in whatever form I can wear from now on!

Darien Pants

Pockets - Two open front pockets with a Velcroed rear location for wallets round out its utility. The rear pocket was a bit tight for my own wallet so I placed that within the jacket.

Ventilation - Unzipping the side openings (starting from the bottom) will allow lower leg ventilation but this also exposes these areas to abrasion in an accident if open more than 3 or 4 inches. Unzipping the top under the storm flap would be a mistake as riders cannot zip them back up in a sitting position. At least I could not? I wore shorts throughout the evaluation period and would recommend that others do the same if traveling for over 30-minutes at a stretch. The pants are comfortable in temps up to 90 degrees in sunny weather as long as the legs are stretched out and the rider is moving at a decent speed. In a 2-hour stop and crawl through NY City in low 80 degree temps, they were hot and I unzipped the lower legs almost to the knees. We were traveling less than 10 mph and it was quite warm on the baking pavement.

Adjustability - Waist adjustment is accomplished through the use of snaps alongside the waist as well as a standard cinch belt. The pants are zipped from the waist all the way down to the ankles on both sides with a Velcroed Storm enclosure for the top 10” or so. There are also standard storm flap enclosures from the middle thigh to the ankles. Ankle adjustment is via std. preinstalled Velcro overlaps and a lower snap. If a proper fit cannot be achieved, the pants are either a size too large or small.

Sizing - If you are going to wear the optional hip pads (I highly recommend these), you may want to order a size larger than you wear in jeans. I wear 36 waist/34 inseam Levi’s while the Darien pants at 36 Waist/Long were too tight with the pads installed. Moving up to a 38 Waist/Long resolved this issue.

Optional Left Leg Map Pocket ($22.00) - This is an option riders must be careful with as they will be tempted to take a longer look at the map while moving when their eyes should be on the road ahead. If you do order this option, your maps will stay dry -- I tested that capability out extensively. Be sure you are at a complete stop and out of harms way when looking down at the map beneath the clear see-through plastic covering.

Aerostich’s Darien Jacket and Pants - Conclusion

Aerostich advertises that it will attempt to fix crash damage and even update any of its riding suits. Some companies will replace an item that has been crash damaged at half price in many cases, but none go to the lengths that Aerostich does. With an average of 30 suits a month coming back for repair, nobody comes close to meeting the promises offered by Aerostich.

Additionally, I know of no other manufacturer that will customize their suits to fit a particular build or need. For those who can wear a jacket and pants off the rack, you will enjoy many years of use. For those who cannot, a few modifications can be performed during or after the order process which will make the Aerostich Darien fit just about anyone.

Darien wish list: The Jacket could use two storm enclosed vertical front vents on each side of the chest and a softer interior collar material. The Pants could use vents (of some sort??) to help cool us off without having to open them up from the bottom when stuck in a stop and crawl for over 10-minutes.

The Darien is quite possibly the best general purpose bike outerwear on the market. It has more than adequate protection from a lengthy slide at speed (read road rash), rain, sun, and even cold when properly equipped. There is other gear available that can perform better in a particular condition, but none have the utility to handle them all as well as the Darien Jacket and Pants do while meeting both the recreational and daily commuter rider’s needs. Serious gear for serious riders is an understatement and simply does not do full justice to this fantastic equipment.

Moving from my standard all-leather Hein Gerick gear to the fully synthetic Aerostich Darien was at first a large step outside of my comfort zone. However, now that I have placed some miles on this gear it will take a very special riding suit to overtake the Aerostich Darien.

The Aerostich Darien Jacket and Pants – Made in the USA and worn with pride while overlooking both the Atlantic and the Pacific... and everything between.

Individual behind the scenes

I would like to thank Andy Goldfine of Aero Design & Manufacturing for not only making such great gear but also for using it day in and day out. In doing so, the improvements since first release have been subtle yet extremely effective while features that do not need improvement have been left alone. From those of us who will be riding in the Darien for years to come: Nice job indeed!

Wayne, as you know, my Aerostich Roadcrafter 2-piece suit did suffer some leakage in the rain. Your Darien jacket and pants outperformed the Roadcrafter in the rain. By the way, I did check with Aerostich, and I was told the "crotch leak" issue in the Roadcrafter has not been fully solved.

I agree with your comments on sizing. Aerostich offers a very wide range of sizes, and then goes beyond that with customizing to meet anyone's needs.

It makes sense that being more visible to other motorists helps when on a motorcycle, and studies show that, starting with the Hurt Report in the 70's.

I have been riding for twenty years and had a darien a roadcrafter but have found al in all my motosport Kevlar suit and jacket to perform in dry, humid, sticky, rainy climates from temperatures and wind chill temps of below -10 and in the mojave dessert of 125+ to outperform anything on the market..........
Just my two cents as I used the BMWGS1200 to commute between LA and Vegas routinely 30k plus per year............

I have had a Roadcrafter for 6 years and the crotch leak thing really only shows up in a fair amount of rain, and if it was raining that bad, visibility was the limiting factor. I think there is an improved zipper now, but the old one wasn't that bad.

It had to go back one time two years after I got it for a seam that let loose, which bummed me out, but other than that it has been great. The only time I got uncomfortably wet wearing it was in a monsoon-like storm in Alabama that I should have not been on the bike during anyway. It's an everyday piece of riding equipment that 'just works.'

I have the Hi-Viz suit myself. I don't know if the color makes any difference or if the rider who would select a dorky looking suit on the alleged safety benefit of the color would generally be a more cautious rider.

___The Motosport appears to be more of a 3-season jacket and limited at best to three. The Darien is a year round full protection jacket and although it does not have the airflow of many of the latest mesh units available today, it has superior protection and more importantly, visibility. Up to about 90 degrees F, the Darien is no problem at any speed due to its across the back and underarm vents. Above that and you are going to get warm quick.

___Dave, Roadcrafter’s are marketed for those that need to slip on and off their protection while wearing a suit or nicer clothes underneath from my understanding. They will never match the rain protection offered by the Darien or full rain gear but they are a lot less bulky and very easy to don and remove after watching Harry with his as we stopped at various places across the North East this past summer. Is that your experience as well?

You are correct that the Roadcrafter is great for wearing over clothes, suit or otherwise. I don't think it is any less bulky than the Darien, it may be more bulky in fact since it is made out of heavier fabric.

The limiting factor in the Roadcrafter as far as weatherproofness is in the long zippers that the rider uses to zip into the suit. If I understand it correctly, the Darien pants are put on in the conventional way, one leg at a time. It is a comprimise for the sake of convenience in wearing it. I guess I never really think about it now, but that aspect of it makes the suit something that makes riding a motorcycle easier to do, and more safely.

___Anything that increases the chances for a rider to wear his gear is a plus in my book as well!

___And thank you for your comments! I believe Harry likes his Roadcrafter very much but would like the additional rain protection offered by the Darien over the hour long soakers we sometimes get stuck in is all...

___On a similar note, while I wore my Darien jacket at the BMW Off-Road training facility last week, I thought I would try some BMW Street Guard-II pants for a period of time. They soaked through in rear and this was while being protected with the longer Darien jacket in the all-day light rain. The lower legs were not large enough to go over the GS Boots I was wearing so they had to go inside. Not comfortable to put it lightly... The StreetGuard-II pants had excellent ventilation features and a very comfortable lining but the CE rated hip and knee armor was not nearly as robust as the TFT armor included and available with the Darien pants let alone the poor rain protection the StreetGuard-II pants offered.

___All said, it was nice to stay warm and dry in the Darien jacket and back into the Darien pants before it was all over.

Wearing the Aerostich Darien - HiViz Jacket while on a BMW F 800 GS

Trying to avoid the carnage ahead and to the side while “in the pit”.

___The professional Bike riding Photographer at the BMW event told me at dinner on the first night that he was really impressed with the Aerostich Hi-Viz as it stood out so bright vs. everyone else’s drab gray, blue and black gear. He also mentioned that the gear accentuated the aggressive movements needed during the Counter steering/Collision Avoidance module.

___The following also came out of the blue. While in SC, I came across the actual BMW R80 bike that crossed the Darien gap and is part of why the excellent Darien gear exists today!

While BMW makes excellent gear, I would not call it the "best". Aerostich and Klim offer imho, better clothing and Alpinestars offer far better boots and gloves.

Not that I would mind giving the BMW Suits a ride but the Aerostich Darien in particular has been proven with millions of miles in the worst conditions. Something few rivals can compete with in this day and age.

As I recall, my Roadcrafter 2-piece suit was very waterproof the first few years I used it.

I have since replaced the jacket, but still have the original pants. It's the pants that have started letting in water, always in heavy rain, but as touring riders know, if your trip is long, you will usually encounter moderate to heavy rain at some point.

I am now seriously looking at Darien pants. I'll talk to the folks at Aerostich, since there are now a variety of Darien pants available, the Darien, DarienLight, and AD1 pants. I'll see what they recommend and get advice on sizing.

Aerostich does offer probably the widest range of sizing and expert advice on that subject.

Harry

PS: I found some good seam-sealer at a Dick's Sporting Goods store and have gone over the leaky areas. That may do the trick. If not, I see no reason why I couldn't switch from my 12-year old Roadcrafter pants to a new pair of Darien pants.